Microsoft Unveils Skype for Windows 8

Windows 8 arrives on Friday, October 26, and Microsoft is making sure Skype is fully optimized for it. Microsoft acquired the video calling company last year, so it makes sense for the new OS to receive some benefit from it. Skype has the expected enhancements, like swiping left and right to navigate to different categories, but it also can show missed calls and other notifications on the Live Tile. It's also integrated fully into the People Hub, so you can check someone's Skype name just like you would an email address or phone number. W8 users will also be able to link their Microsoft and Skype accounts, so logging into Windows automatically logs you into Skype. Video chats can take up the entire screen, with any text messages appearing as little bubbles on the side. You can easily swipe to another conversation at any time, so multitaskers can rejoice, or just have Skype docked on the side of the screen like any other program in Windows 8.